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There are videos which inspire, and there are videos that are cool simply because they are awesome.
This particular video is awesome.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Weekly Kodachrome - Desert Evening
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The rich, orange light glinted off the sandstone cliffs, rising out of the desert landscape like mighty gods of stone.
The chilled evening air of shadow numbed my fingers as I looked at these mighty sentinels, these oblique guardians of time.
I raised my camera, and as I did, they smiled.
Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.
The rich, orange light glinted off the sandstone cliffs, rising out of the desert landscape like mighty gods of stone.
The chilled evening air of shadow numbed my fingers as I looked at these mighty sentinels, these oblique guardians of time.
I raised my camera, and as I did, they smiled.
Remember, by adding your photo into the Weekly Kodachrome meme you are agreeing to do one of the following: display the linky or button to your post, or link back to this post so that everyone gets a little more exposure for the image they’ve uploaded. Those who don’t help to ’share the love’ will have their links removed. You can find the code for the linky here.
Labels:
Koda,
Weekly Kodachrome
Monday, January 16, 2012
Weekly Kodachrome - Shoots & Shadows
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We drove down the deeply-rutted trail of a road until he saw the pipe - cast off like a garment previously worn - jutting out from the tall grass like the barrel of a cannon.
Venturing inside the sloping tunnel, and using the late-ened light as a backdrop, we shot.
Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.
We drove down the deeply-rutted trail of a road until he saw the pipe - cast off like a garment previously worn - jutting out from the tall grass like the barrel of a cannon.
Venturing inside the sloping tunnel, and using the late-ened light as a backdrop, we shot.
Remember, by adding your photo into the Weekly Kodachrome meme you are agreeing to do one of the following: display the linky or button to your post, or link back to this post so that everyone gets a little more exposure for the image they’ve uploaded. Those who don’t help to ’share the love’ will have their links removed. You can find the code for the linky here.
Labels:
Weekly Kodachrome
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Wall
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There are days I know I’ve given my all.
I arrive to work long before the sun comes up, and usually find myself leaving when it’s completed its journey down into the fiery blanket of the western skyline.
I thought about this tonight.
I thought about my life.
I thought about the people that you just can’t seem to please, no matter what…despite the hours you put in, heedless of the amazingness you try feed into the day, there are those who just don’t seem to feel that your efforts have merit; it seems that all they are capable of viewing is that which you didn’t do.
You know those people I’m talking about, don’t you?
Of course, my greatest archenemy is probably none other than I, the scrutinizer extraordinaire. No matter what we do, it never quite seems to be enough for us to feel good about who we are…there’s always one more thing we should have gotten accomplished before day’s end.
And so today, I hit the wall.
No, not literally, but figuratively.
It was akin to finding yourself standing in front of a brick roadblock that is far too high to climb, and too step to traverse. You sit before it, dejected, and know that you are beaten as the rain thunders down from a vortexual sky.
There’s no point in going any further; there is nothing you can do.
You feel your weakened resolve as it begins to crumble, and you succumb into apathy.
It’s then, in that quiet moment that you make the decision not to give up, you realize that it is the wall that will come down.
It must.
A brick is pushed loose and the entire peak comes crashing down in a heap of dusty rubble.
And when the dust clears, you stand, straighten your shoulders, and you keep on running.
There are days I know I’ve given my all.
I arrive to work long before the sun comes up, and usually find myself leaving when it’s completed its journey down into the fiery blanket of the western skyline.
I thought about this tonight.
I thought about my life.
I thought about the people that you just can’t seem to please, no matter what…despite the hours you put in, heedless of the amazingness you try feed into the day, there are those who just don’t seem to feel that your efforts have merit; it seems that all they are capable of viewing is that which you didn’t do.
You know those people I’m talking about, don’t you?
Of course, my greatest archenemy is probably none other than I, the scrutinizer extraordinaire. No matter what we do, it never quite seems to be enough for us to feel good about who we are…there’s always one more thing we should have gotten accomplished before day’s end.
And so today, I hit the wall.
No, not literally, but figuratively.
It was akin to finding yourself standing in front of a brick roadblock that is far too high to climb, and too step to traverse. You sit before it, dejected, and know that you are beaten as the rain thunders down from a vortexual sky.
There’s no point in going any further; there is nothing you can do.
You feel your weakened resolve as it begins to crumble, and you succumb into apathy.
It’s then, in that quiet moment that you make the decision not to give up, you realize that it is the wall that will come down.
It must.
A brick is pushed loose and the entire peak comes crashing down in a heap of dusty rubble.
And when the dust clears, you stand, straighten your shoulders, and you keep on running.
Labels:
awesomeness,
Best-Favorites,
demotivation,
failure,
inspiring,
journey,
life,
success
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Media of the Week - Walk off the Earth
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Every now and again you come across a song—or performers—who literally have you stop whatever it is you’re doing, and cause you to pause in your life. They make you smile, or sit in a state of complete awe.
That’s what Walk off the Earth did for me.
I smile and find myself completely blown away every time I watch it.
Every now and again you come across a song—or performers—who literally have you stop whatever it is you’re doing, and cause you to pause in your life. They make you smile, or sit in a state of complete awe.
That’s what Walk off the Earth did for me.
I smile and find myself completely blown away every time I watch it.
Labels:
Media of the Week
Monday, January 9, 2012
Weekly Kodachrome - The Staredown
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The wondrously sickening, and sweetened smell flooded the classroom at the commencement of the lesson. The kids stared at the pieces of bubblegum on their desks with a type of yearning and titanicular longing.
They had to wait two days before they were actually able to taste it…
Oh, how I love teaching.
Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.
The wondrously sickening, and sweetened smell flooded the classroom at the commencement of the lesson. The kids stared at the pieces of bubblegum on their desks with a type of yearning and titanicular longing.
They had to wait two days before they were actually able to taste it…
Oh, how I love teaching.
Remember, by adding your photo into the Weekly Kodachrome meme you are agreeing to do one of the following: display the linky or button to your post, or link back to this post so that everyone gets a little more exposure for the image they’ve uploaded. Those who don’t help to ’share the love’ will have their links removed. You can find the code for the linky here.
By the way, I posted a few days ago over at Four Perspectives, and if you weren't able to see the video I embedded in my last post, it's since been fixed.
By the way, I posted a few days ago over at Four Perspectives, and if you weren't able to see the video I embedded in my last post, it's since been fixed.
Labels:
Weekly Kodachrome
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Just Like the Ending Scene of a Movie
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There are moments in life that - no matter what words we use - will never adequately convey the power of a moment.
This was one of those moments...
If I ever have a movie made about my life, I think that I want this to be the final scene.
This was one of those moments...
If I ever have a movie made about my life, I think that I want this to be the final scene.
Labels:
Best-Deep,
Best-Favorites,
classroom,
music,
students
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The 911 Hair Dilemma
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I pulled myself from bed this morning and started my regular routine for a normal school day.
Yeah, you know the type of steps that I’m talking about to get oneself ready for a day of just about any type: showering, shaving, fixing your hair, dressing, eating breakfast, and finally brushing your teeth.
Now, maybe this isn’t your particular schedule, but I imagine that it’s something pretty close.
However, this morning I did the unthinkable…
I did one step out of order: I brushed my teeth after shaving.
Bad move.
I got dressed and—with not a lot of time for breakfast—I headed to school, deciding I’d wear the tie I got from ‘Joey’ for Christmas. After all, I’d left it at school after my last time of wearing it.
I arrived at work around 7:00 and took my stuff to the classroom. I grabbed my tie and headed to a mirror to put it on.
As I looked at my reflection staring back at me, I gasped.
I’d completely forgotten to do anything with my hair.
Whoa, just wait a minute here Teachinfourth, why is this even a concern? After all, doesn’t your hair always have a messy kind of look to it?
Yes, it does…but imagine hair with no gel in it whatsoever.
Needless to say, it wasn’t pretty. I looked like an overgrown Chia Pet. That, or a puffball.
Since I had students arriving in the next few minutes for before-school homework lab, I had no time to drive home and remedy the problem. So, I did what any other sane person would do in my situation.
I called up a friend.
I must admit that it’s a good friend who’d be willing to bring you hair gel at the early hours of the morning, and save you from a notoriously awful ‘bad hair day.’
Yes, that is a good friend, indeed.
I pulled myself from bed this morning and started my regular routine for a normal school day.
Yeah, you know the type of steps that I’m talking about to get oneself ready for a day of just about any type: showering, shaving, fixing your hair, dressing, eating breakfast, and finally brushing your teeth.
Now, maybe this isn’t your particular schedule, but I imagine that it’s something pretty close.
However, this morning I did the unthinkable…
I did one step out of order: I brushed my teeth after shaving.
Bad move.
I got dressed and—with not a lot of time for breakfast—I headed to school, deciding I’d wear the tie I got from ‘Joey’ for Christmas. After all, I’d left it at school after my last time of wearing it.
I arrived at work around 7:00 and took my stuff to the classroom. I grabbed my tie and headed to a mirror to put it on.
As I looked at my reflection staring back at me, I gasped.
I’d completely forgotten to do anything with my hair.
Whoa, just wait a minute here Teachinfourth, why is this even a concern? After all, doesn’t your hair always have a messy kind of look to it?
Yes, it does…but imagine hair with no gel in it whatsoever.
Needless to say, it wasn’t pretty. I looked like an overgrown Chia Pet. That, or a puffball.
Since I had students arriving in the next few minutes for before-school homework lab, I had no time to drive home and remedy the problem. So, I did what any other sane person would do in my situation.
I called up a friend.
I must admit that it’s a good friend who’d be willing to bring you hair gel at the early hours of the morning, and save you from a notoriously awful ‘bad hair day.’
Yes, that is a good friend, indeed.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Media of the Week – The Documentary
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I know that I usually post links to music, humor, or something that brings a tear to your eye and a smile to your heart.
This week I’d like to do something just a little bit different than any of that, because a few years ago I created a documentary.
No, I’m not a filmmaker…that’s one thing for sure; however, I wanted to give a crack at it. At the time we had this amazing after-school coordinator, Melanie Bliss (yes, my longtime friend and once-upon-a-time cowriter at Four Perspectives). You see Melanie had started up a program a few years back called “Stories on Stage.”
In a nutshell, it was dramatics programs like you’ve probably never seen before…loaded with awesome and just a smidge of ‘whoa.’
Yeah, I thought that it was simply amazing.
I could go on and on right now—telling you all about it—but then this sixteenish minute documentary I made would be rather pointless now, wouldn’t it?
Yeah, that’s just what I was thinking.
This week I’d like to do something just a little bit different than any of that, because a few years ago I created a documentary.
No, I’m not a filmmaker…that’s one thing for sure; however, I wanted to give a crack at it. At the time we had this amazing after-school coordinator, Melanie Bliss (yes, my longtime friend and once-upon-a-time cowriter at Four Perspectives). You see Melanie had started up a program a few years back called “Stories on Stage.”
In a nutshell, it was dramatics programs like you’ve probably never seen before…loaded with awesome and just a smidge of ‘whoa.’
Yeah, I thought that it was simply amazing.
I could go on and on right now—telling you all about it—but then this sixteenish minute documentary I made would be rather pointless now, wouldn’t it?
Yeah, that’s just what I was thinking.
Labels:
Media of the Week,
play,
school,
students
Monday, January 2, 2012
Weekly Kodachrome - The Sound of Christmas
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The festivities were in full commencement when I arrived—fashionably late—having spent a few hours at the school getting ready.
I didn’t plan on remaining for an extended period, just long enough to grab a bite to eat and then head out into the still-snowless evening, to enjoy the rest of my Christmas break.
The blast of warmth from the house was friendly against the chill lingering outside, and the lights of the tree near the center of the room lit up everything around it in a bravuran glow. It wasn’t long before I found myself lost amidst a dozen different conversations, while the smells of delicious foods wafted about the Christmassy air.
Some time later I found myself seated in the living room, looking at the tree and basking in the warmth of the moment.
The boy walked into the living room and sat in the rocking chair. Seeing the guitar lying next to the piano, he picked it up and asked if he could play me the piece that he’d performed for his recital recently.
As the strains of the Christmas music floated about the room it reminded me of a space in time almost two years ago, back when he’d taken his first guitar class from me in the after-school program.
I thought of how far he’d come since then.
The lights on the tree continued to twinkle. The aromas still permeated the sweet-smelling air. The sounds of Christmas still played on.
I smiled.
Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.
The festivities were in full commencement when I arrived—fashionably late—having spent a few hours at the school getting ready.
I didn’t plan on remaining for an extended period, just long enough to grab a bite to eat and then head out into the still-snowless evening, to enjoy the rest of my Christmas break.
The blast of warmth from the house was friendly against the chill lingering outside, and the lights of the tree near the center of the room lit up everything around it in a bravuran glow. It wasn’t long before I found myself lost amidst a dozen different conversations, while the smells of delicious foods wafted about the Christmassy air.
Some time later I found myself seated in the living room, looking at the tree and basking in the warmth of the moment.
The boy walked into the living room and sat in the rocking chair. Seeing the guitar lying next to the piano, he picked it up and asked if he could play me the piece that he’d performed for his recital recently.
As the strains of the Christmas music floated about the room it reminded me of a space in time almost two years ago, back when he’d taken his first guitar class from me in the after-school program.
I thought of how far he’d come since then.
The lights on the tree continued to twinkle. The aromas still permeated the sweet-smelling air. The sounds of Christmas still played on.
I smiled.
Remember, by adding your photo into the Weekly Kodachrome meme you are agreeing to do one of the following: display the linky or button to your post, or link back to this post so that everyone gets a little more exposure for the image they’ve uploaded. Those who don’t help to ’share the love’ will have their links removed. You can find the code for the linky here.
Labels:
students,
Weekly Kodachrome
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